75 CENTS
Omaha Star
The
Proudly Serving Our Community for Over 80 Years
Dedicated to the Service of the People that NO Good Cause Shall Lack a Champion and that Evil Shall Not Go Unopposed
Nebraska’s Only Black Owned Newspaper Vol. 83 - No. 11 Omaha, Nebraska
Friday, May 28, 2021
75 cents
Family of the Week:
Harrison Family Makes Nebraska Sports Hall of Fame History
Harrison Family Photo Credit
Front Row: Cathy Harrison Banks, Marian1985; Father, L.G. Harrison, Mother, Shirley Harrison; Richard Harrison, Creighton Prep, 1981 Second Row: Carla Harrison Griffin, Bryan 1998; Diana Harrison, Benson 1992; Lisa Harrison, Marian 1986; Valerie Harrison, Benson 1988; Gayla Harrison, Central 1994; Les “Pee Wee” Harrison, Central 1982 Back Row: Vicente Harrison, Bryan 1995; Maurice Harrison, Creighton Prep 1984; Dale Harrison, Benson 1989 History was made in the state of Nebraska when the first African American Family was inducted into the Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame. On Sunday, April 18, 2021, the family of the late L.G. and Shirley Harrison became the recipients of the Fischer Family Award. The Fischer Family Award honors families whose involvement, contributions and leadership made a significant impact on high school sports. The passion for sports started with parents, LG and Shirley, who both played in their youth. LG played basketball at Mary Holmes College in Mississippi, and later for the Armour Packing House, the Black Ravens and the Mets, all recreational teams in Omaha. In addition, he played baseball for the Monarchs, also in Omaha while Shirley played basketball for the Clovers. The Harrison children, Richard, Leslie, Maurice, Cathy, Lisa, Valerie, Dale, Diana, Gayla, Vicente, and Carla all participated in athletics since elementary school. The children began playing sports in elementary school, most while attending Sacred Heart, with their interests continuing through middle school, and into high school. The high schools that they attended included Creighton Prep, Omaha Benson, Omaha Bryan, Omaha Cathedral, Omaha Central and Omaha Marian where they competed in the areas of football, basketball, baseball, volleyball, track and field, and cross country. Collectively, they played sports in high school in Omaha for 22 consecutive years from 1977-1998. Many would go on to pursue athletics in college and semi-professionally. “This award represents the values and principles that our parents instilled in us as a young African American family growing up in North Omaha,” says Richard Harrison, the oldest of the brood. “What they left behind was a footprint of their values, which extended into the classrooms, and on the teams and courts that we played on all over the city, and in our personal and professional lives as well.” The Harrisons have left a legacy that made a mark in Omaha High School sports and beyond.
Chief Operating Officer named 4Urban.org Preston Love, Jr., Founder and CEO of The Institute of Urban Development (4Urban.org), announced today that Krystal Fox has been named Chief Operating Officer for all operations related to the Organization. 4Urban.org is a non-profit focused on four pillars: youth development, urban economic development, community engagement and the anchor organization, Black Votes Matter Institute, which features the Black Votes Matter Youth Black History Tour. Ms. Fox, who is a graduate of Truman State University (MO), is Social Action Chair of the Omaha Alumni Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., the Co-President for the League of Women Voters of Greater Omaha, and the Public Policy Chair for the Omaha Chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women. Mr. Love stated that he is extremely pleased to have someone with the skill Krystal Fox set of vision, personality, technological and leadership skills, leading the team for 4Urban.org. He also stated that, “her appointment will solidify the growth, development and long-term future, and the legacies, of the 4Urban operations.”
Next Issue: June 11, 2021 Information due: June 4, 2021
New Deputy Executive Director
Omaha 100 Incorporated has hired Malinda Williams as its Deputy Executive Director. With a Bachelors in Public Relations/ Business and an Executive Master of Business Administration, Malinda is Founding Partner and Financial Advisor at MVEST Wealth Partners. Malinda has served as President of Urban League of Nebraska Young Professionals, Vice President of the Orangeburg Chamber of Commerce Malinda Williams Young Professionals, Advisory Committee member of I Be Black Girl and as a board member of the Greater Durham Black Chamber of Commerce. Malinda’s background includes relationship development and strategic partnerships, communications and marketing, business development, and financial management. Omaha 100 is a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that provides mortgage loans to help increase homeownership opportunities for underserved markets and populations in the Omaha and Council Bluffs communities. Malinda says, “Empowering families to build financial capacity and achieve prosperity as they define it has been a passion of mine throughout my career. I am looking forward to doing my part to expand that impact with the Omaha 100, Incorporated organization by helping families gain increased access to affordable loans and leveraging homeownership to bridge the wealth gap and promote generational wealth in the greater Omaha area.” We appreciate her talents and passion for Omaha 100’s mission and enthusiastically welcome Malinda to the Omaha 100 Team.
Publisher’s Pen By Terri D. Sanders
COVID-19 is on the decline, but as they say: “we are not out of the woods YET.” The massacre that happened in Tulsa, Oklahoma was 100 years ago. If you are not familiar with what I am talking about: a section of Tulsa, Oklahoma known as BLACK WALL STREET was destroyed by David Turnbo Photography the KKK and other white towns people. The area was burned to the ground from bombing by ground and sky. If you google: Tulsa race riot of 1921, you can get all the gory details. It began May 31,1921, and lasted for two days! More than 1400 homes and businesses were burned and more than 10,000 people were left homeless. In 2020 the equivalent of $32.65 million was lost. This was in the prosperous neighborhood of Greenwood. In 2020 the massacre became part of the Oklahoma curriculum. Two persons (that I know of) testified to support reparations for this event. The persons testifying were children at the time and are now approximately 102-104 years old. The massacre was ended when the Oklahoma National Guard imposed martial law. This event has been documented in films and fiction, the program The Watchman is a portrayal of the events. Art once again imitates life… I am here to say that the Black Press MATTERS. We bring the stories that no one else tells in the mainstream media. The National Newspaper Publishers Association is an organization that represents approximately 230+ Black newspapers around the country was established in 1940 and the founding publisher of the Omaha Star, Mildred D. Brown, was at that table. She recognized that the Black Press matters. We have cultural, economic, and entrepreneurial power and we need to exercise it by pooling our resources and spread/extend our power for GOOD. We can empower ourselves and rise up from the inequities that exist. Black Wall Street is not mythical. It was real. As we approach Omaha Days (July 26-August 2) and people return to reflect on the good ole days, what is new? What has changed? What progress has been made? This event happens every two years (biennial). As we strive, do not do it standing in place, but let US go forward…I believe in the legacy of Mildred D Brown!
Native Omaha Days July 26, 2021 August 2, 2021
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Graduation and Education Issues:
June 2021 submit graduation information to: publisher@omahastarinc.com